Overview

• The US Embassy in New Delhi has ordered that all F-1, M-1 and J-1 applicants and holders set personal social media profiles to public immediately and maintain that setting for the duration of their visas.
• Security reviews will run continuously from the application stage through visa adjudication and until visa expiration to verify ongoing admissibility and travel eligibility.
• This global requirement builds on a 2019 rule for social media identifiers by mandating public online visibility for all student and exchange visitor visas.
• More than 700,000 F-, M- and J-class visas issued in fiscal year 2024 fall under the directive, affecting over 330,000 Indian students—the largest foreign cohort in US higher education.
• The policy follows a May 2025 halt in student visa interviews and their June 18 resumption under stricter vetting guidelines, expanding the enhanced screening process to cover entire visa terms.